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Remembering Ben Montoya Friends and colleagues remember Ben Montoya, board member and friend of gkkworks, who passed away in December. I N M E M O R I U M
B en Montoya, a longtime board member and a friend of gkkworks, passed away December 19 in Fairfield, California. “Ben was an exemplary American patriot. He was a hard-working, intelligent, and thoughtful person that I was proud to call my friend and mentor,” says Praful Kulkarni, president and CEO of gkkworks. Born in Indio, California, on May 24, 1935 to Ben- jamin and Margaret Montoya, Ben graduated from Coachella Valley Union High School in 1953 and attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo before enter- ing the U.S. Naval Academy, where he graduated in 1958. Upon graduation, he married his high school sweetheart, Virginia Cox, also of Indio. Happily married for 57 years, Ben and Ginney raised five sons and two daughters, who blessed them with 17 grandchildren. “One of Ben’s best traits was that he always lived life to the fullest and loved to laugh and smile. Ben taught me a lot over the years. He helped me real- ize the true value of friendship and how to balance career and family,” Kulkarni says. Ben’s 32-year naval career began with a tour in Viet- nam and he rose through the ranks to become chief of the Civil Engineer Corps. He retired in 1989 as a rear admiral. Ben also received an engineering de- gree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a mas- ter’s from Georgia Technical Institute and a juris doctorate from Georgetown School of Law. After the Navy, Ben served as a senior vice president with PG&E and then as president and CEO of Public Ser- vice Co of New Mexico, retiring in 2000. “He positively influenced my life in so many differ- ent ways, and I will miss him dearly,” Kulkarni says. “His memory will always be with us, and his lega- cy will continue through his work, ordinary people like his family and us. Ben would smile if he were here with us today. He would have a funny story to tell to make everyone comfortable, and we would forget our sadness for a moment. We will all miss him, and I am so grateful for having known him.” “Ben taught me a lot over the years. He helped me realize the true value of friendship and how to balance career and family.”
Ben Montoya with Praful Kulkarni.
Ben served on various boards including gkkworks, the National Parks Foundation, the California Board of Education, NASA, and the 1995 Base Clo- sure Commission. He was selected as a 2008 Dis- tinguished Graduate of the US Naval Academy. “He was one of those guys who always made you feel important and as if what you had to say was important.” “Ben Montoya was a real gentleman,” says Mark Zweig, founder and CEO of Zweig Group. “The last of a dying breed – he really knew how to treat peo- ple and had friends the world over. I worked with him on the board of gkkworks – you could not mention a client or potential client where he didn’t know someone. He was one of those guys who al- ways made you feel important and as if what you had to say was important. He was also a great dad and husband.” Ben battled cancer for two years until October, when it became untreatable. Ben passed quietly in the company of his family on December 19 at 8:45 p.m. He is survived by his wife and their seven chil- dren. Ben had a strong but quiet faith that he reaf- firmed at key points in his life. More than all of his many career accomplishments, he deeply touched the lives of many and will be greatly missed. Funeral services were held at noon on January 6 at Sacred Heart Church in Palm Desert, California. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to seabeedi- amondanniversary.org.
THE ZWEIG LETTER January 18, 2016, ISSUE 1135
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